With the rapid rise of ISIS, the Kurdish regions of Iraq, Syria, and Turkey have been cast back into the international spotlight. The Kurdish Region of Iraq (KRI) has become the center of gravity in this dynamic landscape as a key player in the region, and increasingly the world. It has proved one of the few strongholds resilient to the advance of ISIS and become a linchpin in the evolving War On Terror. It has expanded and solidified its territory, shoring up long-sought oil reserves in the process. It is a time of war, yet businessmen are investing and money is flowing.

With KRI's newfound geopolitical and economic leverage have also come revitalized aspirations for independence. Much in the various Kurdish regions and the entire Middle East may hinge on it's decisions.